I just purchased a 1963 Lark Regal Wagonair. Gentleman that I purchased it from said previous long-time owner claimed this car never came with a back seat. It has a solid wood panel where seat would go and note the metal panel mounted right behind the front seat. it still retains the original floor mat and there are no signs of any holes that would be needed to secure the rear seat mounts. My question is - Did some of the Wagonaire's come without a rear seat?
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Yes special ordered by the U.S. Post Office, check the Body Tag for a possible P3 H.D. Wagon, not P4 Regal Trim.
Look on the right side of the Firewall engine side.
The Production Order from the Studebaker National Museum will tell you the whole story.
https://store.studebakermuseum.org/products/Production-Orders-c158643260StudeRich
Second Generation Stude Driver,
Proud '54 Starliner Owner
SDC Member Since 1967 -
Here is the Top trim Level '63 Daytona Wagonaire:
Below are Daytona trim Seats:
This Maroon Daytona Interior is correct for a '63 with the Gold Lark "Bird" on the rear seat back.
The Blue one has '64 Seats.StudeRich
Second Generation Stude Driver,
Proud '54 Starliner Owner
SDC Member Since 1967Comment
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Thank you for the information and pictures. So if I understand you right, there's a good chance that my car was originally ordered by the US Post office and that's why it doesn't have a back seat.Comment
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I just sent you a PM. I hope that you will keep us posted what you find if you get the Production Order from the museum. I'm really interested in unusual Wagonaire models like the one you have found. Hope to hear from you! NickComment
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The interior is original and it is green. The car has been repainted but I lifted the hood in the firewall and it looks like a military drab green color. I wonder if this car was ordered by the military?Comment
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I once owned a 1962 4 door wagon, in the early 1990’s, originally came from the Forest service, as far as I could tell. It did not have a second seat, like yours just a wooden board. So it is possible that yours was government ordered, not necessarily military.
Mark
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What Mark said. Both the US Forest Service and Park Service had a lot of Stude wagons, all painted forest green. Most (all?) came without a third row seat. President Eisenhower directed the GSA and other agencies to buy vehicles from S-P to keep the company from going broke. Some of these contracts continued into the Kennedy Administration.Originally posted by Bullet View PostSkip LackieComment
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Those 1965 Mustang Spinner hubcaps are worth a bit, if they're in good condition. (only semi-off-topic, as they are in photo #1.)
--george
1963 Lark Daytona HT - 63V J8 175Comment
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This '62 ex-GSA wagon was also 'rear seat delete':
A couple of other photos of the same car here: 1964 Production - Studebaker Drivers Club Forum
CraigLast edited by 8E45E; 06-06-2024, 03:44 AM.Comment
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How about adding this unusual Wagonaire to the online SDC Wagonaire Registry at:
wagonaire.info
Along with the pictures of the seat delete so other owners can see it?Comment
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One thing to keep in mind: eventually all these vehicles at the end of their "service" life were sold or auctioned to the new owner. I did own a P2 wagonaire with a upgraded 4 headlight grill and no outside trim. It was a V8/Flightomatic car. Jim Hill now owns it after a series of owners after I sold it. It ran great and very smooth manual steering but there was not a single straight panel of sheet metal on the car.Comment
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MYSTERY SOLVED ! I was cleaning the interior in this car and I stumbled across an old US government decal that said, "US GOVERNMENT DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE". Interesting that they ordered it with the 289 V8. Thank you all for your assistance in getting me up to speed as to what I have purchased. When I first bought the car I thought it was odd that someone had removed the back seat. I will be selling the car eventually, any ideas on value? 289, three on the tree, no power steering or power brakes, interior is all original but fairly rough, has been repainted but not great and incorrect color.Comment
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Ross,
Determining value is truly a roll of the dice. Location, condition, rarity, desirability are all factors. In my opinion, not having a rear seat is not a plus factor as you have eliminate the utility of having passenger seat. Just because a car is rare doe not mean it is valuable. Again, my opinion, but doing a full restoration on a Studebaker Lark will not return your money even if you do all the work yourself. To some people (like me) having a column shifted transmission is a plus, especially with an overdrive.
I will not give an opinion on value. See a picture of your car might have someone make an offer after seeing the condition.
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Ross,
Determining value is truly a roll of the dice. Location, condition, rarity, desirability are all factors. In my opinion, not having a rear seat is not a plus factor as you have eliminate the utility of having passenger seat. Just because a car is rare doe not mean it is valuable. Again, my opinion, but doing a full restoration on a Studebaker Lark, except for the performance models or convertible, will not return your money even if you do all the work yourself. To some people (like me) having a column shifted transmission is a plus, especially with an overdrive.
I will not give an opinion on value. Seeing a picture of your car might have someone make an offer after seeing the condition.
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